KCA to discuss Sreesanth's life-ban with BCCI

Kerala Cricket Association president C Mathew is planning to take up the matter of banned pacer S Sreesanth with senior BCCI member Arun Jaitley. (File photo)

National Cricket Academy Chairman and president of Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), T C Mathew on Thursday said he is planning to take up the matter of banned pacer S Sreesanth with senior BCCI member Arun Jaitley.

Fielding questions at a meet-the-press here, Mathew said he would meet Sreesanth and his lawyer soon to discuss further proceedings in the case.

"When an issue like spot fixing arises, the BCCI can act like this way only. The International Cricket Association have issued strong guidelines on such matters. On its part, the KCA could not go beyond the decisions of BCCI disciplinary committee which is the ultimate body," Mathew said.

"Still we have offered our support to Sreesanth. I will meet Sreesanth and his lawyer soon and discuss further steps to be taken in the matter. I am planning to take up the matter with Arun Jaitley, who is member of the BCCI, soon.

"The action against Sreesanth was taken on the basis of an internal inquiry by BCCI. The same stand was taken even against former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin. But we can put more pressure on behalf of Sreesanth," he said.

Though KCA had given him the permission to practise at the International Stadium in Kochi, the player was yet to begin it, he said.

As NCA chairman, Mathew said, he would give priority to settle the controversial land deal issue in Karnataka in which the Academy had invested a total of Rs 50 crore for the land.

On recent controversies in NCA concering the resignation of some of the coaches, he said the country had no dearth of qualified coaches and will recruit them.

Seeking to promote tournament culture in Kerala, the association has large number of plans including to set up indoor stadiums and grounds across the 14 districts of the state, Mathews said.

Efforts would be made to develop the upcoming stadium in Wayanad district as a zonal cricket academy centre of the country, he added.

On reports that former captain Rahul Dravid is likely to become the director of NCA, Mathew said his understanding was that Dravid was earning more as a commentator.

Mathew said providing adequate security to IPL matches would become a problem, as they could coincide with Parliament elections.

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